Plunger actuated switch using integral leaf spring contacts



March 23, 1965 'r. E. FIDDLER PLUNGER ACTUATED SWITCH usms INTEGRAL LEAF SPRING CONTACTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1963 INVENTOR.

m p W F A I. w w w 7 ATTORNEY March 23, 1965 T. E. FIDDLER 3,175,066

PLUNGER ACTUATED SWITCH usms INTEGRAL LEAF spams CONTACTS Filed June 4, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 63? [4 77/5000?! .6. 70045? United States Patent 3,175,066 PLUNGER ACTUATED SWITCH USING INTEGRAL LEAF SPRING CONTACTS Theodore E. Fiddler, 1268 Suflield, Birmingham, Mich. Filed June 4, 1963, Ser. No. 285,419 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-159) This invention relates to electric switches and in particular to a plunger actuated switch of new and novel construction and to transfer poles of new and novel construction having integral spring arms, mounting-attaching means, and connector prongs.

Plunger actuated switches have been employed to facilitate making and breaking contact in circuits, however, the several devices of prior art have not proved entirely satisfactory in use as they are complicated in' design and construction, expensive to manufacture, and not durable in repeated use.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide a plunger actuated switch which is simple in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use in conjunction with electrical equip ment and actuating means, and very durable in repeated use.

An object of the invention is to provide a one piece body having an internal plunger chamber, an internal switch actuating chamber communicating with one another, and an internal stop for limiting plunger movement at one end of plunger travel.

An object of the invention is to provide a plunger in the switch body having a slide portion in the body slide chamber, a nose portion in the body actuating chamber, and a shoulder for abutting the body stop.

An object of the invention is to provide a unitary terminal pole including a socket prong, attaching-mounting means, and a spring arm contact wherein the prong and mounting-attaching means are of relative double thickness so as to be substantially inflexible and the spring arm contact is of relative single thickness so as to be resiliently flexible.

An object of the invention is to provide a terminal pole having spring arm contact formed integral with one leaf of the terminal pole to eliminate attachment of the spring arm contact by welding or reveting to obviate the spring arm fracturing at such mechanical attachment during repeated use.

An object of the invention is to provide a terminal pole having a spring arm contact made integral therewith to insure extremely long life in the spring arm contact with repeated use.

An object of the invention is to providea cap for the switch body having slots therein for receiving the terminal pole mounting-attaching means and for abutting a spring in opposition to the plunger.

An object of the invention is to provide mounting-attaching means on the terminal pole co-acting with the cap so that when the cap is attached to the body, the terminal pole is fixed between the body and the cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide an abutment on the terminal pole abutting the outside of the cap fixing the cap on the body wherein the terminal pole attaching means attaches to the body.

An object of the invention is to provide a plunger within the body having a shoulder portion for abutting the body stop which also comprises means for breaking contact between the spring contact arms of terminal poles.

An object of the invention is to provide a contact collar around a reduced nose portion of the plunger lying against the plunger shoulder for closing contact between the terminal pole spring arm contacts.

An object of the invention is to provide a spring surrounding a reduced nose portion of the plunger axially locating the spring at the plunger end of the spring and wherein the spring abuts the contact collar holding it in the proper assembled relationship.

An object of the invention is to provide locating and positioning means on the cap for the other end of the spring.

An object of the invention is to provide an insulator ring positioned between the spring and the collar for breaking contact between the spring contact arms of the terminal poles.

An object of the invention is to provide a single or double acting switch easily made of insulating material such as in an injection molding process wherein the parts are easily formed and are easily assembled without the use of any special or expensive tooling.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch which is easily assembled such as by dropping the plunger in the switch body with the collar, insulator ring, and spring thereon whereupon it is only necessary to annex the cap and terminal pole pieces to complete assembly of the switch. I An .object of the invention is to provide a switch construction embodiment which is capable of miniaturization so that extremely small switches can be made of the single or double acting type. j

An object of the invention is to provide a switch which is capable of being easily sealed such as from the permeation of moisture, acid fumes, and other detrimental conditions.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch embodiment which is operated by a solenoid coil such as by substituting an iron armature for a portion of the plunger in the slide chamber.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of the novel switch and terminal poles embodying .the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the switch showing the plunger and terminal arms in elevation. i

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken on the line 22 thereof.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary prespective view of the switch body showing'the terminal pole sockets and plug attaching flange.

FIG. 4 is a separate side elevational view of terminal pole seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the terminal pole seen in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the switch seen in FIG. 7 showing two sets of terminal poles.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 6 taken on the line 77 thereof showing a normally closed terminal .pole at the top and a normally open terminal pole at the bottom.

FIG-8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. '2 showing one structural integration of cap and terminal pole mounting and attachment to the body.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a diiferent cap and terminal'pole attachment to the body; and

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a completely sealed switch having an iron armature screwed in the plunger insulator shoulder operated by a solenoid coil.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the novel switch and terminal pole assembly disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises, a switch body 20 having a plunger slide chamber 21 and a switch actuating chamber 22. A stop 23 is formed internally of the body 20. A plunger 24 is disposed in the body 20 and has a stem portion lying in the slide chamber 21, a shoulder 25 abutting the stop 23 on the body 20, and a reduced nose portion 26 lying in the switch actuating chamber 22.

A contact collar 27 of conductive material surrounds the nose 26 and abuts the shoulder 25. A spring 28 has a first end surrounding the nose 26 and abutting the collar 27. The second end of the spring 38 abuts the cap 29; the cap 29 has a recess 30 receiving the spring 28 other end. The spring 28 is compressed between the cap 29 and the collar 27 urging the collar 27 against the shoulder 25, and in turn urging the shoulder 25 against the body stop 23. This positions the switch in its unactuated normal position.

Oppositely positioned paired like terminal poles 31 are disposed through slots in the cap 30 and extend into the switch operating chamber 22. The poles 31 also project outwardly of the cap 29.

Each terminal pole 31 comprises a relatively narrow thin spring arm contact 32, a relatively thick inflexible socket prong 33, and relatively thick inflexible mountingattaching means 34 intermediate the spring arm 32 and the prong 33.

Each terminal pole 31 may be formed of a single strip of material bent over and folded on itself as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. One fold or leaf of the material is longer than the other so as to extend endwise outwardly of the other fold or leaf to form a spring arm 32 of single material thickness. This extending portion of the leaf is reduced in width so as to form a narrow spring arm. Thus, the spring arm is relatively narrow, relatively thin, and shaped as desired. The spring arm contact 32 is provided with an arcuate foot portion 35 for riding the contact collar 27 and insulator shoulder 25 in sliding engagement. The prong 33 is shaped and sized so as to make a desirable fit with a selected connector socket.

The switch body 20 is provided with paired opposed reinforced walls 40 and 41 having sockets 42 and 43 respectively for receiving the attaching-mounting means of the terminal poles 31. The body may also be provided with an annular dovetail flange 44 for co-acting with the dovetail flange 45 on the cap 29.

In assembling the device of FIGS. 1-5, the collar 27 and spring 28 are placed on the plunger 24 and the plunger inserted into the body 20 from the cap end of the device. The terminal poles 31 are then inserted in the paired sockets 42 and 43 in the body. The cap slots are then slid over the prong portions of the terminal poles and the cap dovetail flange 45 driven behind the body dovetail flange 44. This drives and seats the attaching flanges 46 and 47 on the terminal poles 31 in the sockets 42 and 43 at one end and seats them against the cap at the other end. Thus the terminal pole attaching flanges 46 and 47 are pressed against the sockets 42 and 43 on one side and against the cap 29 on the other side. This completely integrates the device as the coil spring 28 is automatically received in the cap socket 30 and compressed to the designed extent so as to displaceably resiliently urge the collar 27 against the shoulder 25 and slide plunger 24 to the left to the unactuated position seen in FIG. 1.

In the designed construction of the switch, the spring arms 32 may press against the contact collar 27 thereby integrating the switch as a normally closed switch. Moving the plunger to the right as seen in FIG. 1, such as applying force to the end of the plunger 24, moves the plunger inwardly off the stop carrying the shoulder 25 into the area of the spring arms contact feet 35. The contact feet ride off the contact collar 27 and engage the shoulder 25 thereby breaking the normally closed circuit. Release of force from the plunger 24 allows the coil spring 28 to return the plunger, shoulder, and contact collar 27 to the normal unactuated position closing cont-act through the collar 27 with the contact arms 32.

1 Referring now to the double acting embodiment of the which normally engage the contact collar 27. 'The other set of poles such as the terminal poles 31A have shorter spring arms 32A normally engaging the insulator ring 50.

In the actuation of the switch seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, moving the plunger 24A to the right from the unactuated position to the actuated position causes the spring arms 31 to move off the collar 27 onto the shoulder 25. This breaks contact and circuit between the spring arms 31.

Also during this movement the spring arms 32A move off the insulator ring 50 onto the contact collar 27 closing the circuit between the paired spring arms 32A in the actuated position. Upon release of moving force on the plunger 24A the coil spring 28 repositions the plunger, collar, shoulder, and insulator ring 50 to the positions illustrated whereupon the normally closed circuit is established between the spring arms 31 and the circuit is opened between the normally open spring arms 32A.

FIG. 8 illustrates one method of attachment and integration of the terminal poles 31 or 31A with the switch body 20 and the cap 29. Here the cap 29 is attached to the body 20 and the terminal pole 31 has flanges 46 and 47 disposed between the switch body 20 and the cap 29 in pressed abutting relationship to both. Thus by inserting the terminal pole 31 in the switch body with its flanges 46 and 47 in the sockets 42 and 43 the terminal pole is held in position relative to the body 20. The cap 29 slots are then passed over the terminal pole 31 and the cap 29 driven into the body until its dove tail flange 45 seats behind the dovetail flange 44 on the body. This completes the assembly and structural connection between all parts of the switch.

FIG. 9 shows a modified type of mounting. In this embodiment the body 29A is equipped with bottomless sockets or channels 51 and 52 for each terminal pole 31B. The terminal pole is equipped with tooth like projections 53 and 54 adjacent the body channels 51 and 52 respectively. The terminal pole 31B is also equipped with exterior abutting flanges 55 and 56 Which overlook the cap 29A outwardly of the cap.

In this embodiment of the invention the cap 29A is first assembled with the terminal poles 31B. The terminal poles 31B are then slid into the body channels 51 land 52 and their projecting teeth like portions 53 and 54 are then driven into the channels 51 and 52 with sufficient force to seat the cap 29A on the body 29A and to force the flanges 55 and 56 against the cap 29A to hold it in the assembled relationship. In this connection, the cap seating on the body with the terminal pole flanges SSand 56 abutting the cap, limits the interior projection of the terminal poles 313 in proper spaced relationship relative to the interior parts of the switch.

Referring now to the modification seen in FIG. 10, it

will be noted that the body 20B is closed at the plunger end as well as at the cap end. Thus the interior of this switch body is completely sealed. The plunger is equipped with an iron armature 24A screwed into the shoulder 25A. -A solenoid coil 60 is positioned around the switch body 20B in the area of the plunger iron armature portion 24A. Upon powering the coil 60, a magnetic field is set up attracting the iron armature 24A to center itself within the field of the coil 60. This moves the switch from the normal position established by the coil spring to the actuated position as illustrated in FIG. 10. Upon terminating electrical powerto the solenoid coil 60, the coil spring 28 returns the plunger and the other internal parts to the normally closed unactuated position. Obviously, a solenoid coil can be used in conjunction with the other embodiments of the switch such as those seen in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 by merely substituting an iron armature in the plunger portion of the switch.

The drawings are enlarged to a point where they are two and one half times the size of a switch presently being manufactured and sold. Thus miniature switches of at least one tenth the size of that illustrated can be easily manufactured and assembled quickly and precisely due to the novel construction of the switch and the terminal poles.

While only a few embodiments of the novel switch construction and terminal pole construction have been illustrated and described, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail and arrangement of the various elements of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A plunger operated switch comprising,

a hollow body of non-conductive material having an interior slide channel and an interior operating chamber leading through one end of said body,

a plunger of non-conductive material in said switch body lying in said slide channel and a reduced nose portion extending into said operating chamber,

a stop on said body internally intermediate said slide channel and said operating chamber,

a shoulder on said plunger intermediate said slide portion and said nose portion abutting said body stop in one direction of plunger travel limiting travel of said plunger relative to said body in said one direction of travel,

a contact collar of conductive material surrounding said plunger nose portion and abutting said shoulder,

a coil spring in said body operating chamber surrounding said plunger nose portion having one end abutting said collar, said nose portion radially 1ocating said spring one end; said spring having a second end extending beyond said plunger nose portion;

said collar and said spring being spaced radially inwardly from said body in said operating chamber creating transfer pole receiving space radially outwardly of said spring, collar, and plunger nose;

a cap on said body open one end closing same and abutting said spring second end and compressing said spring against said collar urging said collar against said shoulder and axially urging said plunger shoulder against said body stop resiliently displaceably locating said plunger, shoulder, and collar in the switch normal unactuated position;

said cap having means radially locating said spring other end;

said plunger, shoulder, and collar being axially movable against said spring to move said shoulder off said stop to move said shoulder and collar from the switch unactuated position to the switch actuated position;

said body having paired opposed transfer pole receiving sockets in said receiving space;

said cap having paired opposed transfer pole receiving slots aligned with said body sockets;

paired transfer poles lying in said body sockets and said cap slots;

each said pole having a relatively flexible spring arm contact engaging said contact collar in said switch unactuated position normally closing the circuit between said poles;

each said pole having a relatively inflexible connector prong lying axially outside said cap;

each said pole having relatively inflexible mountingattaching means intermediate said prong and said spring arm coacting with said body sockets and said cap slots to fix said poles on said switch body;

forcing said plunger against said spring moving said collar axially out of contact with said spring arms and moving said shoulder into contact with said spring arms to open said switch;

removing force from said plunger permitting said spring to move said shoulder out of contact with said spring arms and to move said collar into contact with said spring arms closing the circuit between said poles.

2. In a switch as set forth in claim 1 each said transfer pole comprising,

a single strip of conductive material folded upon itself forming two superposed leaves interconnected by a compressed looped end;

said leaves adjacent said looped end constituting said relatively inflexible terminal prong of double thickness relative to the thickness of each said leaf; one said leaf being longer than the other said leaf so as to have a projecting portion extending beyond said other leaf;

said longer leaf projecting portion being reduced in width so as to be relatively narrow;

said narrow projecting portion of said longer leaf constituting said relatively flexible spring contact arm of single material thickness;

said superposed leaves intermediate said terminal prong and said spring arm being shaped to constitute said relatively inflexible mounting-connecting means relative to a switch body; and

said terminal prong being shaped and sized to effect a desired fit with a receptacle.

3. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, each said transfer pole comprising,

two superposed interconnected leaves of conductive material;

both said leaves having a first end terminating equally relative to one another constituting said relatively inflexible terminal prong of double thickness relative to one said leaf;

both said leaves having second ends spaced from said terminal prong with one said leaf being longer than the other said leaf so as to have a projecting portion extending beyond said other leaf second end;

said longer leaf projecting portion being reduced in width so as to be relatively narrow;

said narrow projecting portion of said longer leaf constituting said relatively flexible spring contact arm of single leaf thickness;

said superposed leaves intermediate said terminal prong and said spring arm being shaped to constitute said relatively inflexible mounting-connecting means for co-acting with a switch body;

said terminal prong being shaped and sized to effect a desired fit with a receptacle.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said body and said cap having cooperating means for securing said cap on said body; and

each said transfer pole mounting-attaching means internally abutting said body sockets in one direction and internally abutting said cap in the other direction;

each said transfer poles being fixed to said body by in setting said transfer pole mounting attaching means in one said body sockets, sliding said cap slots over said pole prongs, and securing said cap on said body;

5. In a device as set forth in claim 1, each said transfer pole mounting-attaching means having internal connecting means slidable through said cap slots for fixedly engaging said body sockets and external abutment means for abutting said cap;

said cap being first positioned on said body and second said transfer pole spring arms and internal connecting means being slidable through said cap slots with said transfer pole connecting means fixedly engaging said body sockets and said transfer pole abutment means abutting said cap to fix said transfer poles in said body and to fix said cap on said body.

6. A plunger operated switch comprising,

a hollow body of non-conductive material having an inteiror slide channel and an interior operating chamber leading through one end of said body,

a plunger of non-conductive material in said switch body lying in said slide channel and a reduced nose portion extending into said operating chamber.

a stop on said body internally intermediate said slide channel and said operating chamber,

a shoulder on said plunger intermediate said slide portion and said nose portion abutting said body stop in one direction of plunger travel limiting travel of said plunger relative to said body in said one direction of travel,

a contact collar of conductive material surrounding said plunger nose portion and abutting said shoulder,

an insulator ring surrounding said plunger nose portion and abutting said contact collar,

a coil spring in said body operating chamber surrounding said plunger nose portion having one end abutting said insulator ring; said nose portion radially locating said spring one end; said spring having a second end extending beyond said plunger nose portion;

said collar, ring, and said spring being spaced radially inwardly from said body in said operating chamber creating transfer pole receiving space radially outwardly of said spring, ring, collar, and plunger nose;

a cap on said body open one end closing same abutting said spring second end and compressing said spring against said ring urging said ring and collar against said shoulder and axially urging said plunger shoulder against said body stop resiliently displaceably locating said plunger, shoulder, ring, and collar in the switch normal unactuated position;

said cap having means radially locating said spring other end;

said plunger, shoulder, collar, and ring being axially movable against said spring to move said shoulder ofi said stop to move said shoulder, collar, and ring from the switch unactuated position to the switch actuated position;

said body having a first and second set of paired opposed transfer pole receiving sockets in said receiving space;

said cap having a first and second set of paired opposed transfer pole receiving slots aligned with said body sockets;

a first and second set of paired transfer poles respectively lying in said first and second sets of body sockets and said cap slots;

each said pole having a relatively thin narrow flexible spring arm contact;

said spring arm contacts of said first set of transfer poles engaging said contact collar in said switch unactuated position normally closing the circuit between said poles;

said spring arm contacts of said second set of transfer poles engaging said insulator ring in said switch unactuated position normally opening the circuit between said poles;

each said pole having a relatively thick wide inflexible connector prong lying axially outside said cap;

each said pole having mounting-attaching means intermediate said prongs and said spring arms co-acting with said body sockets and said cap slots to fix said poles on said switch body;

forcing said plunger from said unactuated position to said actuated position moving said plunger against said spring moving said collar axially out of contact with said spring arms of said first set of transfer poles and moving said shoulder into contact with said spring arms of said first set of transfer poles to open the circuit therebetween, and

moving said ring axially out of contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles and moving said collar into contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles to close the circuit therebetween;

removing force from said plunger permitting said spring to move said shoulder out of contact with said spring arms of said first set of transfer poles and to move said collar into contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles closing the circuit therebetween, and

moving said collar out of contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles and moving said ring into contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles opening the circuit therebetween.

7. A plunger operated switch comprising,

a hollow body having an interior slide channel and an interior slide channel and an interior operating chamher;

said plunger at said nose portion constituting a shoulder;

a contact collar of conductive material surrounding said plunger nose portion and abutting said shoulder,

a coil spring in said body operating chamber surrounding said plunger nose portion having one end abutting said collar; said nose portion radially locating said spring one end; said spring having a second end extending beyond said plunger nose portion;

said collar and said spring being spaced radially inwardly from said body in said operating chamber creating transfer pole receiving space radially outwardly of said spring, collar, and plunger nose;

a cap on said body abutting said spring second end and compressing said spring against said collar urging said collar against said shoulder and axially resiliently displaceably locating said plunger, shoulder, and collar in the switch normal unactuated position;

means constituting a stop limiting plunger travel at the switch normal unactuated position;

said cap having means radially locating said spring other end;

said plunger, shoulder, and collar being axially movable against said spring to move said shoulder and collar from the switch unactuated position to the switch actuated position;

said body having paired opposed transfer pole receiving sockets in said receiving space;

said cap having paired opposed transfer pole receiving slots aligned with said body sockets;

paired transfer poles lying in said body sockets and said cap slots;

each said pole having a relatively flexible spring arm contact for engaging said contact collar to close a circuit through said switch and for engaging said shoulder to open a circuit through said switch;

each said pole having a relatively inflexible connector prong lying axially outside said cap;

each said pole having relatively inflexible mountingattaching means intermediate said prong and said spring arm coacting with said body sockets and said cap slots to fix said poles on said switch body;

forcing said plunger against said spring moving said shoulder and said collar axially relative to said spring arms changing their positions relative to said spring arms to the actuated position;

removing force from said plunger permitting said spring to move said collar and said shoulder relative to said spring arms changing their positions relative to said spring arms back to the unactuated position.

8. In a switch as set forth in claim 7 each said transfer pole comprising,

said longer leaf projecting portion being reduced in width so as to be relatively narrow;

said narrow projecting portion of said longer leaf constituting said relatively flexible spring contact arm of single material thickness;

said superposed leaves intermediate said terminal prong and said spring arm being shaped to constitute said relatively inflexible mounting-connecting means relative to a switch body; and

said terminal prong being shaped and sized to effect a desired fit with a receptacle.

9. In a switch as set forth in claim 7 each said transfer pole comprising,

two superposed interconnected leaves of conductive material;

both said leaves having a first end terminating equally relative to one another constituting said relatively inflexible terminal prong of double thickness relative to one said leaf;

both said leaves having second ends spaced from said terminal prong with one said leaf being longer than the other said leaf so as to have a projecting portion extending beyond said other leaf second end;

said longer leaf projecting portion being reduced in width so as to be relatively narrow;

said narrow projecting portion of said longer leaf constituting said relatively flexible spring contact arm of single leaf thickness;

said superposed leaves intermediate said terminal prong and said spring arm being shaped to constitute said relatively inflexible mounting-connecting means for coacting with a switch body;

said terminal prong being shaped and sized to effect a desired fit with a receptacle.

10. In a device as set forth in claim 7 said body and said cap having cooperating means for securing said cap on said body; and

each said transfer pale mounting-attaching means internally abutting said body sockets in one direction and internally abutting said cap in the other direction;

each said transfer pole mounting-attaching means inserting said transfer pole mounting attaching means in one said body sockets, sliding said cap slots over said pole prongs, and securing said cap on said body.

11. In a device as set forth in claim 7 each said transfer pole mounting-attaching means having internal connecting means slidable through said cap slots for fixedly engaging said body sockets and external abutment means for abutting said cap;

said cap being first positioned on said body and second said transfer pole spring arms and internal connecting means being slidable through said cap slots with said transfer pole connecting means fixedly engaging said body sockets and said transfer pole abutment means abutting said cap to fix said transfer poles in said body and to fix said cap on said body.

12. A plunger operated switch comprising,

a hollow body having an interior slide channel and an interior operating chamber,

a plunger in said switch body lying in said slide channel having a reduced nose portion extending into said operating chamber,

said plunger at said nose portion constituting a shoulder;

a contact collar of conductive material surrounding said plunger nose portion and abutting said shoulder,

an insulator ring surrounding said plunger nose portion and abutting said contact collar,

a coil spring in said body operating chamber surrounding said plunger nose portion having one end abutting said insulator ring; said nose portion radially locating said spring one end; said spring having a second end extending beyond said plunger nose portion;

said collar, said ring, and said spring being spaced if? radially inwardly from said body in said operating chamber creating transfer pole receiving space radia 1y outwardly of said spring, ring, collar, and plunger nose;

a cap on said body abutting said spring second end and compressing said spring against said ring urging said ring and collar against said shoulder and axially resiliently displaceably locating said plunger, shoulder, ring, and collar in the switch normal unactuated position;

means constituting a stop limiting plunger travel at the switch normal unactuated position;

said cap having means. radially locating said spring other end;

said plunger, shoulder, collar, and ring being axially movable against said spring to move said shoulder, collar, and ring from the switch unactuated position to the switch actuated position;

said body having a first and second set of paired opposed transfer pole receiving sockets in said receiving space;

said cap having a first and second set of paired opposed transfer pole receiving slots aligned with said body sockets;

a first and second set of paired transfer poles respectively lying in said first and second sets of body sockets and said cap slots;

each said pole having a relatively fiexible spring arm contact;

said spring arm contacts of said first set of transfer poles engaging said contact collar in said switch unactuated position normally closing the circuit between said poles;

said spring arm contacts of said second set of transfer poles engaging said insulator ring in said switch unactuated position normally opening the circuit between said poles;

each said pole having a relatively inflexible connector prong lying axially outside said cap;

each said pole having mounting-attaching means intermediate said prongs and said spring arms co-acting with Said body sockets and said cop slots to fix said poles on said switch body;

forcing said plunger from said unactuated position to said actuated position moving said plunger against said spring moving said collar axially out of contact with said spring arms of said first set of transfer poles and moving said shoulder into contact with said spring arms of said first set of transfer poles to open the circuit therebetween, and

moving said ring axially out of contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles and moving said collar into contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles to close the circuit therebetween;

removing force from said plunger permitting said spring to move said shoulder out of contact with said spring arms of said first set of transfer poles and to move said collar into contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles closing the circuit therebetween, and

moving said collar out of contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles and moving said ring into contact with said spring arms of said second set of transfer poles opening the circuit therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 955,521 4/10 Lovejoy 200-159 1,710,411 4/29 Douglas 200-159 2,945,098 7/60 Ludwig 200-166 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner. 

1. A PLUNGER OPERATED SWITCH COMPRISING, A HOLLOW BODY OF NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL HAVING AN INTERIOR SLIDE CHANNEL AND AN INTERIOR OPERATING CHAMBER LEADING THROUGH ONE END OF SAID BODY, A PLUNGER OF NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL IN SAID SWITCH BODY LYING IN SAID SLIDE CHANNEL AND A REDUCED NOSE PORTION EXTENDING NTO SAID OPERATING CHAMBER, A STOP ON SAID BODY INTERNALLY INTERMEDIATE SAID SLIDE CHANNEL AND SAID OPERATING CHAMBER, A SHOULDER ON SAID PLUNGER INTERMEDIATE SAID SLIDE PORTION AND SAID NOSE PORTION ABUTTING SAID BODY STOP IN ONE DIRECTION OF PLUNGER TRAVEL LIMITING TRAVEL OF SAID PLUNGER RELATIVE TO SAID BODY IN SAID ONE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, A CONTACT COLAR OF CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL SURROUNDING SAID PLUNGER NOSE PORTION AND ABUTTING SAID SHOULDER, A COIL SPRING IN SAID BODY OPERATING CHAMBER SURROUNDING SAID PLUNGER NOSE PORTION HAVING ONE END ABUTTING SAID COLLAR, SAID NOSE PORTION RADIALLY LOCATING SAID SPRING ONE END; SAID SPRING HAVING A SECOND END EXTENDING BEYOND SAID PLUNGER NOSE PORTION; SAID COLLAR AND SAID SPRING BEING SPACED RADIALLY INWARDLY FROM SAID BODY IN SAID OPERATING CHAMBER CREATING TRANSFER POLY RECEIVING SPACE RADIALY OUTWARDLY OF SAID SPRING, COLLAR, AND PLUNGER NOSE; A CAP ON SAID BODY OPEN END CLOSING SAME AND ABUTTING SAID SPRING SECOND END AND COMPRESSING SAID SPRING AGAINST SAID COLLAR URGING SAID COLLAR AGAINST SAID SHOULDER AND AXIALLY URGING SAID PLUNGER SHOULDER AGAINST SAID BODY STOP RESILIENTLY DISPLACEABLY LOCATING SAID PLUNGER, SHOULDER, AND COLLAR IN THE SWITCH NORMAL UNACTUATED POSITION; SAID CAP HAVING MEANS RADIALLY LOCATING SAID SPRING OTHER END; SAID PLUNGER SHOULDER, AND COLLAR BEING AZIALLY MOVABLE AGAINST SAID SPRING TO MOVE SAID SHOULDER OFF SAID STOP TO MOVE SAID SHOULDER AND COLLAR FROM THE SWITCH UNACTUATED POSITION TO THE SWITCH ACTUATED POSITION; SAID BODY HAVING PAIRED OPPOSED TRANSFER POLE RECEIVING SOCKETS IN SAID RECEIVING SPACE; SAID CAP HAVING PAIRED OPPOSED TRANFER POLE RECEIVING SLOTS ALIGNED WITH SAID BODY SOCKETS; PAIRED TRANSFER POLES LYING IN SAID BODY SOCKETS AND SAID CAP SLOTS; EACH SAID POLE HAVING A RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE SPRING ARM CONTACT ENGAGING SAID CONTACT COLLAR IN SAID SWITCH UNACTUATED POSITION NORMALLY CLOSING THE CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID POLES; EACH SAID POLE HAVING A RELATIVELY INFLEXIBLE CONNECTOR PRONG LYING AXIALLY OUTSIDE SAID CAP; EACH SAID POLY HAVING RELATIVELY INFLEXIBLE MOUNTINGATTACHING MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID PRONG AND SAID SPRING ARM COACTING WITH SAID BODY SOCKETS AND SAID CAP SLOTS TO FIX SAID POLES ON SAID SWITCH BODY; FORCING SAID PLUNGER AGAINST SAID SPRING MOVING SAID COLLAR AXIALLY OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID SPRING ARMS AND MOVING SAID SHOULDER INTO CONTACT WITH SAID SPRING ARMS TO OPEN SAID SWITCH; REMOVING FORCE FROM SAID PLUNGER PERMITTING SAID SPRING TO MOVE SAID SHOULDER OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID SPRING ARMS AND TO MOVE SAID COLLAR INTO CONTACT WITH SAID SPRING ARMS CLOSING THE CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID POLES.J 